Character Education Base on Local Wisdom in Aceh (Study on Tradition of Children Education in Aceh Community)

This study explains about education of children character which base on local wisdoms in Aceh community. The study used historical, sociological and anthropological approach. The local wisdoms have dealt with Islamic religion which is strongly practiced by Aceh community. Religion and Aceh local wisdoms have become part of Aceh community identity for a long time. In this regard, it can be seen in hadih majah (quotes of Aceh): â€œhukom ngon adat lagee zat ngon sifeutâ€, it means that religion and tradition are like substance and attribute that cannot be separated. Children education in Acehnese tradition has several phases namely: azan and iqamah, boh nan (naming of child), peutron aneuk (bringing of child into the ground), aqÄ«qah (sacrificing of goat for new-born baby), doda idi (singing and telling story to the child), euntat beut (bringing of child to Islamic school to recitate the holy Quran), peutamat beut (make special party for children after their finishing recitating of the holy Quran). The result of this study shows that those traditions were very important identities to the children of Aceh particularly to perform a good characters and personalities. It also can grow values of tauhid, kindness, togetherness, and intelligence.


A. Introduction
Since the old time, the color of Islam has been strongly drawn onto the life of Acehnese people. Their culture and Islam as religion are firmly converged, as the result they are hardly diverged. It is popularly described on Acehnese aphorism: "hukom ngon adat lagee zat ngon sifeut"-religion and tradition are like substance and nature that cannot be separated. 1 Acehnese people have noble tradition of educating children through the role of family or parents. Education at home is essential because it will complete the education children have gotten from school. Even though there are thousand good schools, they cannot replace home because it is the fundamental education for every children. It is a great gift and it cannot be simply ignored. 2 The Acehnese also implements nuclear family concept which consists father, mother, and unmarried children. If children have been married, they will also form the same family concept. Within the system, parent has significant role to take care of their children and to fulfill their needs (cloth, food, health, and education) until they become mature and independent. 3 From the hand of family, local wisdom based education will be simply applied. Local wisdom means local knowledge or local genius. It could be also defined as a life concept: a thought which is established from bright logic, good will, and it contains positive matters. Local wisdom, as stated by Khan, also interpreted as logical product that comes from deep feeling, trait, nature, and insight of In relations with it, according to a survey released by Indonesian National AIDS Commission (KPA), nationally there are 66 per cents female junior high school and high school students have lost their virginities. It means that they have experienced free sex. 5 National Narcotics Agency (BNN) and Center for Health Research (Puslitkes) University of Indonesia in 2011 also showed high escalation prevalence on drug's usage every year. In 2015, it was predicted that drug's users would be 5.8 millions, while drug's transaction was estimated reaching 19 billions Rupiah. 6 Following those data, drug's suspects came from various educational backgrounds: 3.863 cases were from elementary level, 6.863 were junior high school, 22.225 were senior high school, and 746 were college. In the perspective of age, there were 104 thousands cases conducted by under sixteen years old people, age 16-19 was 203 cases. Free life style and drugs are iceberg phenomena that threat country and religion future-not mentioning violence against children, children trafficking, student brawl, and other miserable problems.
In this context, revitalization of local wisdom values on educating children character is really important in the middle of foreign culture hegemony and dissemination which far from religious, social, and cultural norms. The values friction will create individualism, hedonism, and even materialism that will offer negative impact and marginalize Acehnese culture which its existence is popularly linked with Islam. The friction will also cause drugs abuse, promiscuity, student brawl, and moral and ethic degradation within children and teenagers. It cannot be denied that the old education method successfully engendered brilliant generations who have constructed developed civilization. Thus, it is interesting to completely examine how they could create notable Islamic scholars, heroes, leaders, both men and women. Several of them are Hamzah Fansuri, Nuruddin Ar-Raniry, Abdurrauf al-Singkili, Teungku Fakinah (Islamic scholars); Sultan Iskandar Muda, Sultanah Safiatuddin (leaders); Teungku Chik Di Tiro, Teuku Umar, Cut Nyak Dhien and Cut Meutia (war heroes)-as the consequence, Aceh is widely known as the last province conquered by Dutch Colonial (actually it was administratively ruled, not entirely). It is appealing to discover how the old Acehnese generation educated their children, what kind of local wisdom they used to engender good characters. Those values will be foundation and filter to deal with complex life challenges. Children, who have good tauhid, sincerity, togetherness, heroism, and intelligence, will be able to face challenges and changes in the future.
The study was used historical and sociological-anthropological approaches. Historical approach is meant to reveal the old Acehnese tradition of educating children. 7 According to Mattulada, human behavior could be examined by historical approach. 8 Besides that, sociological-anthological approach could be used to study children character education tradition as behavior and culture or habit practiced by Acehnese. 9 Atho Mudzhar also stated that Islamic practice formed as behavior could be seen as cultural phenomenon. 10 7 Kuntowijoyo, Pengantar Ilmu Sejarah, Yogyakarta: Bentang Budaya, 1995, p. 17

B. Islam, Local Wisdom, and Acehnese Identity
Islam was solidly integrated as Acehnese identity especially in the 17 th century during its heyday. 11 Islam became strong bond of ethnics' diversities. As widely known, during its glorious era, Aceh was the destination of many nations like Indian, Persian, Arabian (sailed in Eastern Aceh Coastal region), China (sailed in the middle region), and European (sailed in Aceh Jaya region). Those people amalgamated and then became Acehnese people inside solid bond of Islam. As the matter of fact, it could be said that Acehnese firstly emerged around 11 th until 13 th century-during Peureulak Sultanate (in East Aceh) and Samudra Pasai, and continued to the Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam.
When other regions were still covered by animism, dynamism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, the lights of Islam has illuminated Aceh. Islam became majority religion that gave spirit and way of life for people. The first Islamic kingdom in Indonesia was also built in Aceh: Peureulak Sultanate, located in East Aceh, built in the 13 th century. 12 Besides that, Kingdom of Aceh Darussalam became the fourth largest Islamic kingdom in the world, after Kingdom of Persia in Isfahan (Iran), Mughal Empire in India, and Ottoman Empire in Turkey.
Speaking about Acehnese people characteristic, Irwan Abdullah said, looking from the geographical and historical perspective of the reign of Sultan Iskandar Muda-when he expanded his kingdom into the West Sumatera, Aceh became a very important capital region related to social-economical constellation and national 11 Otto Syamsuddin Ishak, Aceh Pasca Konflik: Kontestasi Tiga Varian Nasionalisme, Banda Aceh: Bandar Publishing, 2013. p. 96. 12 It was proved by Marco Polo notes (wanderer from Venice, Italy) and Ibnu Batuta (wanderer from Middle East). They had visited the West Coast of Aceh during its time. Marco Polo mentioned Ferlec or on Chinese literature know as Pala-la. After less than 100 years, Islam expanded to Samudera Pasai with its first Sultan, Malikussaleh. Read more in Abubakar Aceh, Sekitar Masuknya Islam ke Indonesia, Solo: Ramadhani, 1985, p. 13. politics. Related to those aspects, Acehnese has several characteristics: 13 Firstly, Aceh is well-known as the region where religion and culture are having great impacts on social arrangement, as mentioned on its hadih maja (aphorism): Adat bak Poe Teumeureuhom, Hukom bak Syiah Kuala, Qanun bak Putroe Phang, Reusam bak Lakseumana. It means that executive power lies on Sultan (poteumeurehom), yudicative power lies on Islamic scholar (Syiah Kuala), legislative power lies on princess (Putroe Phang), and defence power lies on army (Laksamana). 14 Secondly, Acehnese was known as brave people proved by the history of Aceh War, since 26 March 1873 when Dutch Colonial declared war. The courage showed their loyalty with vision and fair leader. Their patriotism was admitted by the West, one of them was Zentgraaff, the Dutch writer: The truth is the Acehnese, both men and women are brave soldiers for something they believe as national and religious goals. There are lots of heroes and heroines lies among them who can also be compared with ours.
Thirdly, the Acehnese has faith and confidence as the reason of their tribal identity. The prestige comes from story which is retelling from time to time, it mentions how Acehnese won the war over the Dutch. Besides that, historical sites and cultures also contribute to the emerging of those heroism feelings.
Fourthly, the Acehnese commits with collectivity values. It can be seen on their culture to gather in coffee shop, to visit friends and relatives, to hold party and other ceremonies involving many people. On those occasions, the socialization of Acehnese values are developed through arts performances like Seudati, Saman, Debus, and other dances that reflect collectivity within rhythm. 13  Relating to Irwan Abdullah's argument, we may conclude that Acehnese culture and custom are Islam itself. It has been assimilated harmonically with Islam since hundred years ago. Concrete form of tradition and culture within Acehnese life is not only socially and politically applied but also in term of law.
It cannot be denied that Islam as way of life crystallizes within Acehnese culture and tradition. Islam dominates social system, regulation, and structure. It means that Islam has been a world view. As an example, the lowest governance level is village (gampong) led by geuchik (village chief) who administers government. Besides that, there is imum meunasah (Islamic leader) who administer every religion matter.
In addition, educational tradition that has been preserved until now is meunasah and dayah. Meunasah is coming from Arabic word "madrasah" and dayah is coming from word "zawiyah". Both of them mean "to study". Meunasah is led by teungku or imum meunasah. Every religious ritual like prayer, Quran School, and discussion to deal with a problem is generally conducted by teungku meunasah. In addition, dayah is led by teungku or teungku chik who supervises and teach their pupils. Usually, dayah also contributes to educate people in that area and participates in social activity. 15

C. Character Education and Children Education Tradition
Character means moral or mental quality, moral power, name, or reputation. It also defines as special characteristic that belongs to a being or a thing. Those attributes are genuine and rooted inside someone's nature and pose as "machine" that encourage a human to do, to act, to say, and to response something. 16 It is important to be noted that three cores of educationfamily, school, and home-must be able to create Islamic education. 17 The reason is because in Islamic context, character education is moral education which is the core of someone's religiosity. Without good moral, religion of a Muslim is not perfect.
Azyumardi Azra explained that to actualize character education or moral education, those three cores have to work with synergy. Therefore, the first step is to connect them and create educational networks which are almost broken off. The construction of character education will not succeed if they cannot work together. 18 Family or household as developing environment has to be activated first. It has to be school of lover or in Islamic term is madrasah mawaddah wa rahmah-a place to study with love. Islam gives great attention on family development (usrah) because family is believed as a foundation of an ummah (nation); thus, the condition of family will reflect its nation. The best nation (khayr ummah) is the one that has unity (ummah wahidah) and moderate (ummah wasath), as Islamic aspiration that is only be achieved through love-based family. 19 Along with that, the Acehnese has local wisdom to educate children for developing particular attribute. It is mentioned as follows:

Adhan and Iqamah
The ceremony of adhan (in Acehnese they call it "bang") and iqamah have holy meaning for introducing religion to a newborn child. The one who vocalizes adhan has to be spiritually clean by doing wudhu (ablution through watering several parts of body), dressing neatly like the one who wants to pray. After that, baby is put on lap facing the Qiblah, then adhan and iqamah are voiced melodiously with hoping that the baby will also have sweet voice. If 17  he is not crying during it, it means he will listen to his parent advice in the future, and he will be pious believer. 20 After that, the baby is handed to bideun (traditional midwife) and she put him besides his mother. The choice of picking the one who vocalizes adhan and iqamah has important meaning for the Acehnese. They hope the moral of the baby will follow that person. Therefore, they specially select him.
If the newborn is male, the adhan and iqamah will also deliver by man. If the newborn is female, iqamah will be voiced by woman. The core of the tradition is coming from Prophet Muhammad PBUH. When his grandson was born, it was said in a hadith that: Adhan and iqamah tradition aim to imprint the values of tauhid on children when they grow up. Hopefully it will give benefit to them. It is one of Islamic teachings that become tradition in Acehnese culture.

Boh Nan (Naming Child)
Boh nan ceremony is helded simultaneously with petron aneuk (putting child down onto the ground) and aqƯqah (sacrificing goat on the occasion of child's birth). Sometimes people mention it as peutron aneuk ceremony only, it means that it has cover all three ceremonies. It is undertaken at the second or the third months after the baby was born.
After finishing peutron dapu ceremony, the grandmother of the baby will be busy to set various things needed for ceremony which is performed by her mother and is held at the grandmother house. The equipment needed for this occasion has relation with peutron aneuk and aqƯqah ceremony. Those things will be reflected when the occasion is run as long as the family members who participate in the ceremony. 22 Unofficial naming will be also given by bideun (traditional midwife) after the cutting of umbilical cord. If the parent is agree to that name, at the day of ceremony, the name will be sealed officially by teungku (Islamic cleric). If it is not agreed by him, then he will find new name. Usually he will pick one of the names from Prophet Muhammad PBUH offspring like Muhammad, AlƯ, Yakǌb, IsƗ, MǌsƗ, FƗtimah, AƯsyah, and so on.

Peutron Aneuk Tradition
Peutron aneuk ceremony (putting baby down on to the ground) is an event where a baby is stepping on the ground for the first time. Therefore, sometimes it is mentioned as the ceremony of peugilho tanoh (stepping on the ground). The event is held simultaneously wit the ceremony of boh nan and aqƯqah. The aim of the ceremony is as a symbol to introduce surrounded neighborhood to child.
On the occasion, the baby is held by teungku. If he is a boy, he will be held by teungku agam (male), if she is a girl, she will be held

Character Education Base on Local Wisdom in Aceh (Study on Tradition of Children Education in Aceh Community)
by teungku inong (female). One of the participants set an umbrella to cover a baby while teungku is holding sword on his right hand. He is slowly approaching stair. Other guests are preparing for ceremony. Before the baby is put onto the ground, barzanjƯ (a book which contains history and praising to Prophet Muhammad PBUH) or Islamic song or salawat are sung. After it, the child is put onto the ground. 24 Next, when teungku is holding a baby, he steps on the first rung, one other person is standing besides him and breaking a coconut over the umbrella. A part of coconut is thrown to the left part of yard, and other part is thrown to the right. Teungku has to quickly step down to the yard as he has to slash banana tree and sugar cane which have been planted by using sword. As the note, for a female baby, the slashing is not performed. Breaking the coconut means to create a baby to be brave and the slashing of banana tree and sugar cane is the imaginary portrait of someone who goes to war and fight in a battle. 25

AqƯqah Tradition
Acehnese people assume that aqƯqah ceremony has relation with religion. For rich people, they will slaughter both buffalo and goat, for underprivileged ones, they will sacrifice goat only. The ceremony itself will be great because it is held simultaneously with boh nan and peutron aneuk ceremony.
The ceremony is held in a house where the baby was born. In old time, the preparation is done by mother-in-law of a wife (the mother of her husband). Nowadays, it is prepared by the husband himself. If a family cannot afford to hold the ceremony, it is no problem if it is not held. Members from wife and husband sides will accompany when is running. The sacrifice (animal) must be male.
Materials for ceremony contain male animal, half meter of white fabric, perfume, and comb. Before the animal is slaughtered, one covers it with fabric, smears it with perfume, and combs its head 24 Muhammad Umar, Peradaban Aceh: Kilasan Sejarah Aceh dan Adat, Banda Aceh: Yayasan Busafat Kerjasamana dengan Jaringan Komunitas Masyarakat Adat Aceh, 2006, p. 178. 25 T. Syamsuddin dkk.,Upacara Tradisional...,p. 48. fur. The tradition has been acceptably passed from generation to generation since years ago. Before the ceremony begins, the father of a child hand sacrificed animal and other ceremonial equipments to teungku meunasah (Islamic leader) and keuchik (village chief). They will call all of the men in the village to work together. After that, the animal is slaughtered and cooked in meunasah, and then they eat it together with guest. After it finishes, the ceremony is over.
The aqƯqah ceremony is being held hilariously with the participation of teungku, keuchik, neighbors, and relatives from both sides of families. AqƯqah is influenced by Islamic teaching as mentioned by RasǌlullƗh PBUH: From 'AƯsyah ra. Indeed RasǌlullƗh PBUH said, for the male newborn, slaughter two decent goats, for female, and slaughter one. (Transmitted by TurmizƯ).

Doda idi (Singing Islamic Song)
Doda idi means singing Islamic song or retelling Islamic saga or Acehnese tale. Retelling saga or fairytale is really important. There are six benefits of those actions for children: 1) developing imagination and emotional experience; 2) satisfying the self expression needs through identification process; 3) giving moral education without patronizing children; 4) widening children mental horizon and providing chance to understand beauty; 5) emerging humor sense within children; 6) giving basic understanding of literature as knowledge for children to face adult world. 27 Along with that, 'Abd al-AzƯz 'Abd al-MajƯd affirmed that retelling story to children will give benefit to their moral, wit,

Character Education Base on Local Wisdom in Aceh (Study on Tradition of Children Education in Aceh Community)
imagination, and language because it contains idea, imagination, aim, language, and stile of language. 28 Parents usually retell a bedtime story or in their spare time. They usually spin a yarn about prophet and his companions, Islamic scholars, mujahidins, Sufis, Allah's trustees who are famous with their piety, as examples Hikayat Abu Sama, Hikayat Asan ngong usen, Hikayat Meukreuet, Hikayat Aulia Tujoh (the Seven Clerics) or Mouse Deer Saga (Hikayat Pelanduk Kance) 29 . Even Abu Nawah (Abu Nawas), Amat Rhang Manyang (Acehnese version of Malin Kundang) 30 and other fairytales. Retelling story is believed as a method to enhance their intelligence.
To lull children, parents usually swing them by rhyming poem and relious saga which contains spirit of heroism like salawat, hikayat prang sabil, and particular song composed as lullaby-in Acehnese tradition it is called doda idi, as example: The lyrics of do da idi above give spirit and motivation for children because it contains religious and heroism values. Those values will influence their psychology, intelligence, moral, and other aspects until they become adults.
Mohammad Fauzil Adhim said that great people were not born but forged and carved through excellent education. One of the methods is to educate them since they are still children. It can be done by motivating them to read or parents can retell worthwhile story to them. It will give lots of benefits for their soul.

Euntat Beut (Escorting Children to Quran School)
If children are six or seven years old, parents have obligation to register them to Quran School. The Acehnese believes when children are seven years old, they have religious duty to fulfill Allah's commands and prohibitions. To do so, it requires understanding that is obtained from Quran School. If Acehnese parents are failed to teach Quran to their children, they feel failed and sinful.
The one who teach Quran is called as teungku. A child will firstly study the Juz 'Amma (the 30 th chapter of Quran) and then he continue the entire chapters. After that, he may to proceed to dayah (traditional place to learn Islam, more advances on its level). The opening process of study is to learn tajwƯd-how to pronounce Arabic letters correctly and to understand the rule of Quran's recitation.
Besides that, children will also learn how to pray, wudhu' (ablution method using water), and basic of Islamic jurisprudence. That knowledge is delivered through poems and Acehnese songs in order to make it easy to memorize.
The teaching is held in rangkang (small lodge), balee (hovel), meunasah (small mosque) and teungku's house. Teenagers prefer to study in meunasah, some of them do it at teungku's house. The girls also study there at teungku's house. Each of those groups is taught by teacher from same gender. There are five to fifteen students. Before starting study, euntat beut ceremony is held. Several materials are needed like yellow sticky rice, grilled chicken, pisang abin (milk banana), bereuteh (roasted rice), one boiled egg, ranub seuseupeh (betel), and six cubits of white fabric. Besides that, they also bring study equipments like Quran and rihai (a small pedestal to put Quran on). 34 Those materials can be also found on ceremony of planting rice, new house, and so on.
When time comes, parents will escort their children to Quran School. Wednesday is perceived as good day. They bring on every material needed. When they hand their children to teungku, they say "nyoe lon jok aneuk lon bak teungku, teungku peu beut, boh neu dhot, boh neu poh, pulang hukom bak drou neuh, me bek capiek ngon buta" (I give my children on your obligation to teach them Quran. You may scold and hit them, but do not make them disabled). 35 They say that while shaking teungku's hand and then he says al-hamd li AllƗh (may Allah blesses us). At the moment, they are officially being his students. After that, he puts beureuteh and sticky rice as a morsel into their mouths by saying bismillƗh. The leftover are handed to other students and guests. The last occasion is teungku describes the teaching timetable, usually in afternoon or evening in order to undisturbed regular school. The children can select between those options. After the parents are going home, the ceremony is over.

Peutamat Beut (Completing Quran Recitation)
Peutamat beut is often mentioned as khatam ceremony. It is held when children complete the recitation of Quran. For a boy, it is normally organized when circumcision ceremony is held and for a girl, it is held during her wedding (when she is mature).
If the ceremony is not held during circumcision or wedding ceremony, then it will be held in Quran School. The procession of the ceremony does not have any difference between boy and girl. Lately, after finishing half part of Quran, peusijuk (blessing) ceremony is held with bringing its material like beureuteh, yellow sticky rice, and other things. However, nowadays it is not held anymore. 37 If children have completed the Quran recitation, their parents will be informed. Then they will visit the school to inform teungku when the ceremony will be held. If both of them agree, the parents will prepare its materials.
During the ceremony, the parents are coming. Other Quran masters will also be invited. They will be asked to recite some verses of Quran continually one to another. Teungku will listen and pay high attention.
Peutamat beut tradition actually has deep meaning for children who have complete the recitation of Quran. Indirectly, it gives extra spirit for them. For other children who have not done the same thing, it will be the motivation to learn harder and achieve the same result. Besides that, parents will have prestige and happiness. The prestige because their children succeed on learning Quran and the happiness of performing one of their obligation: to teach Quran to their children.

D. Conclusion
Implementing Character education through disseminating local wisdom values for children based on their age level is essential. There are several characters that can emerge from the internalization of those 37 T. Syamsuddin dkk.,Upacara Tradisional...,p. 54. values: 1) the tauhid (The oneness of God) through adhan and iqamah. Children who listen to them before they listen on something else will have strong tauhid inside their soul; 2) the kindness from naming children (boh nan). In a name there is a pray. Good name will awake good soul of a child. He will also have motivation to prove it and share the positive wave to others; 3) the togetherness from peutron aneuk and aqiqah ceremony. One of the characteristics of Acehnese is their collectivity and togetherness not only on peutron aneuk ceremony but also on every aspects of life-they often hold kendhuri (eating party) on every occasions; 4) the heroism lies within doda idi. Most of Acehnese songs, tales, and sagas are inspired by Prophet and his companions stories or other Islamic figures like the tale of prang sabi (the story of war against the Dutch Colonial); and 5) the intelligence from euntat and peutamat beut. If children are introduced to Quran since beginning of their life, it will affect their intelligence intellectually, emotionally, and moreover spritually.